Leon Atwood

Leon Warner Atwood, 93, went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, November 16, 2014. He rejoins his beloved wife of 59 years, Carrie Reid Atwood, who died at 83 on June 6, 2003. He is survived by his children, Warren, Robin, Jean, and Joan; a daughter-in-law, BJ Atwood; a son-in-law, Bruce Starnes; 7 grandchildren Colin (Penny) Atwood, Jonathan (Jennifer) Atwood, Patrick (Crisny) Cavanaugh, Brian Cavanaugh, Cristin (Nat) St. Laurent, Kyrie (Josh) Shaver and Nolan (Trisha) Myers; and, last but not least, 13 great-grandchildren, Michael, Amanda and Kyle Atwood, Shelby Gentry, Elektra Wright, Ethan, Elina, Abigail, Liam and Lily Cavanaugh, and Jaylin, Janessa and Jamarcus St Laurent.

Leon was born on the Atwood farm in Hopkinton, N.Y., on May 10, 1921, spending his early years in St. Lawrence County. Following high school, he moved to Washington, D.C., to attend Bliss Electrical School. There he met and married Carrie Mae Reid on October 23, 1943. Leon Joined the Navy during WWII, where he served installing and maintaining shipboard radar and communication electronics. Discharged in 1946, he then went back to upstate NewYork and enrolled at Clarkson College of Technology (now Clarkson University) in Potsdam, N.Y., graduating in 2 1/2 years with Honors (equivalent to a 4.0), a record unbroken to this day. He accomplished this while working at Chittenden’s Hardware Store supporting a wife and two children. Settling his family in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., he worked for IBM as a developmental technologist and part of the team that created the first commercial integrated circuits and solid state computer, the IBM360. He received a patent for his work. After working briefly in Manassas, he retired in 1984 from IBM in Kingston, N.Y., after a record 44 years. In retirement, Leon and Carrie settled in Urbanna where they enjoyed a wide circle of friends. They also traveled the country and world visiting children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. Some of their travels led them through New England, then to England tracing his family back to 1193. In Middlesex, he volunteered, serving his community and his Lord through Urbanna Methodist Church and Kiwanis International. As a Kiwanian, he served time as its president and worked in county schools tutoring children, working with the IBUG program, and Career Day. Each November, he could be found shelling out oysters at his beloved Oyster Festival.

Like Will Rogers, Leon never met anyone he didn’t like and was loved by all who were fortunate enough to know him. Even in later years as dementia began to enclose him, he continued his gentle relationships and loving all he met. When unable to navigate life on his own, he lived and traveled with his care-giving daughter, Robin. Together, they celebrated life on cruises, bus and road trips. He even traveled to Spain, Africa, and made a return trip to England. His extended family and friends will miss him but know he will always be with us. We praise God that he has been released from earthy trials and is now free and singing with the angels.

Please come and join us in a memorial Celebration of Life to be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 22, at Lower United Methodist Church, 120 Lower Church Road, Hartfield. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall with refreshments and a time to visit and share with the family. Interment will be at Hopkinton/Fort Jackson Cemetery in upstate New York. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made, in his honor, to Middlesex Kiwanis or Lower United Methodist Church.